Mahzarnama (The Memorandum) — Page 153
Mahzarnama 153 scholars concerning the worth of these "arguments" is reflected in the following quotation from Mr. Ghulam Ahmad Pervez, editor of Tuloo'-e-Islam: ". . . . The greatest importance is given to Maudoodi Sahib's booklet Qadiani Mas’ala. In my view, the arguments advanced in this booklet are so flimsy that, upon analytical scrutiny, they tend to be arguments in favour of Ahmadis. " [Mizaaj Shenaas-e- Rasool, p. 443] Today we will select one important and fundamental objection from among those which have been raised in the aforesaid booklet, and which is again being constantly reiterated these days, viz. Why do Ahmadis not observe daily prayer behind non- Ahmadis? What is implied thereby is that since they do not do so, therefore it "proves" that they constitute a different ummah, and are worthy of being declared a non-Muslim minority. We are presenting a concise reply to this allegation which, in fact, encompasses the rejoinder to most of the allegations contained in Qadiani Mas’ala. In fact, if a fair-minded reader does not let go of the Islamic principles of justice, he would inescapably concede that if the "arguments" of Qadiani Mus’ala, or sundry literature of this sort, are to be given credence then, not to speak of "Qadianis," every other sect will have to be declared a non- Muslim minority as a pressing obligation, to serve the purpose of justice. Anyhow, this was only an incidental observation. The real question before us, at this time, is: Why do Ahmadis not pray behind non-Ahmadis? So, let it be known that, out of dozens of important reasons for not praying behind others, one reason is provided by a number of fataawa issued by the eminently regarded, renowned, high- ranking non-Ahmadi religious scholars, in which the Muslims have been passionately forbidden from praying behind one another.